A Richmond man has been arrested in the high-profile shooting of three men at the Twin Peaks lookout on Valentine's Day, after a "heavily armed" SWAT team raided a San Pablo Avenue residence Monday night.
As you likely recall, 19-year-old Rene Mora and 21-year-old Julio Peraza, both of Santa Rosa, died in a shooting at the Twin Peaks lookout at 2:06 a.m. Sunday. A third man was seriously injured in the attack, and remains hospitalized according to the most recent announcement from the San Francisco Police department.
Police subsequently asked area residents to be on the lookout for a dark gray GMC Yukon Denali that was carjacked by the suspect then used as a getaway vehicle. The same suspect, SFPD spokesperson Officer Grace Gatpandan tweeted, who was arrested Monday evening.
#BREAKING #SFPD confirming arrest of suspect wanted in Twin Peaks Double Homicide. No further details until suspect has been booked.
— Ofc. Grace Gatpandan (@OfficerGrace) February 16, 2016
When contacted Tuesday, SFPD spokesperson Officer Albie Esparza said no announcements regarding the suspect would be made until after homicide investigators release the details later this morning. However, ABC7 reports that "heavily armed SWAT officers rushed into a Richmond home on San Pablo Avenue Monday night," taking into custody a man they identify as 26-year-old Richmond resident Richard Contreras.
DEVELOPING: According to SF Jail records, suspect in Twin Peaks double homicide is Richard Contreras of Richmond. #abc7now
— Tiffany Wilson (@TWilsonTV) February 16, 2016
The carjacked Denali was discovered parked around the corner from the raided home.
According to the carjacking victims, they were "just sightseeing, enjoying the city lights...You know, walking together, enjoying our vacation." That's when they heard "these popping sounds. As I look to my left we see the gunman coming toward us, kinda with his back turned."
That's when the suspect turned and pointed his gun at the tourists.
"We locked eyes right when he turned around and when he pointed the gun at me," said one of the SUV's owners.
"All I see is the gun with this big clip in it and I instantly just looked down and pushed the unlock on my car. I said, 'Babe, get out of the car.' And I just opened the door and ran out."
When told of the arrest of his son's alleged killer, Rene Mora, Sr. told ABC7 that "That's not going to bring my son back."
According to the Press-Democrat, Mora’s family believes that the three men were "'doing the tourist thing,' looking at the lighted city and taking photos" when they were killed.
Mora, described as a "positive, fun-loving person with a strong work ethic" had "been fond of wearing superhero costumes and business suits to school, often carrying a kid’s briefcase," is his youth, a family member says.
Despite an SFPD statement saying that the men were targeted by their shooter, the Mora family says they believe the trio were "random targets."
According ABC7, Contreras, the man arrested in the crime, "faces two murder charges, one attempted murder charge, carjacking, possession of a firearm by a felon and assault with a semi-automatic weapon."
Previously: Two Shot And Killed At Twin Peaks Lookout; Scott Wiener Blames SFPD Under-Staffing
Police Seeking Carjacked Yukon Denali Involved In Twin Peaks Shooting